Aorta protein networks in marginal and acute zinc deficiency

Abstract

Human zinc deficiency is a global problem and may influence the development of cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to determine Zn deficiency affected pathways and protein interactions in rat aorta and their likely influence on stress-induced atherogenesis. In two separate studies, rats were given diets acutely (<1 mg Zn/kg) or marginally (6 mg Zn/kg) deficient in Zn. Both studies included Zn adequate controls (35 mg Zn/kg) and the acute deficiency study included a pair-fed group. After 6 wk, proteins from thoracic aorta were separated by 2-DE. Proteins affected by zinc deficiency were identified by principal component analysis. Multiple correlations of identified proteins indicated protein networks of related function. Proteins clusters decreased in zinc deficiency were related to fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism. Structurally related proteins, including zyxin and over nine transgelin 1 proteins, were either increased or decreased by acute and marginal deficiencies. PKC alpha was significantly decreased in Zn deficiency suggesting that Zn may regulate the phosphorylation of target proteins. Zn deficiency-related changes in structural, carbohydrate and fatty acid-related proteins may be disadvantageous for maintaining vascular health and are consistent with a protective role for zinc in the development of atherosclerosis.

Effect of vegetarian diets on zinc status: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies in humans

“…In zinc deficiency a diverse range of symptoms is reported, including growth retardation, impaired immunity and endocrine dysfunction . Genomic analysis suggests a link between zinc and chronic diseases, and zinc deficiency is reported to contribute significantly to the global burden of disease . Although severe zinc deficiency is relatively rare in developed countries, based on population estimates of dietary zinc intake, mild deficiency states are believed to be highly prevalent …”

Micronutrients deficiency and associated sociodemographic factors in Chinese children

“…[9] Zinc deficiency has been implicated in hyperglycemia, [10] diabetes, [11] and cardiovascular disease. [12] Furthermore, we previously reported that early micronutrient deficiency (zinc and iron) was linked to later cognitive deficit [13] and increased externalizing behavior outcomes in children. [14] …”

Plasma zinc's alter ego is a low‐molecular‐weight humoral factor

“…The discovery of a humoral factor which mediates the response of tissues to lowered zinc status may provide a mechanism to understand how reduced dietary zinc intake can influence arterial protein expression (22) and accelerate the development of atherosclerotic plaque in a mouse model of atherosclerosis (14). In the present microarray study, pathway analysis of the 1600 significantly regulated genes ( P <0.001), which were 2‐3‐fold changed by ZD9 compared to PF27 (therefore, excluding all highly regulated genes), showed a dominance of pathways related to apoptosis and survival, cytoskeletal remodeling, cell adhesion, and cell cycle (44% of the top 50 pathways).…”

“…We subsequently noted that dietary zinc deficiency modulates the levels of some aortic proteins related to the phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in rats (22) and that a marginally ZD status increases the development of aortic atherosclerotic plaque in a mouse model of atherosclerosis (14). In the rat studies (22), plasma zinc was unaffected by mild zinc deficiency, and yet changes in the levels of many aortic proteins were detected using proteomic methodology. We hypothesized that a zinc‐sensitive humoral factor may be mediating the effects of zinc deficiency, and so we designed a series of cell culture studies, using primary rat VSMCs, to test the presence of such a factor.…”